Whitepine Bush Scenic Reserve is a beautiful Kahikatea Forest and just a 15 minute drive out of Whakatane on SH2. It’s a 250m loop track nestled in native NZ bush and would be an ideal walk for families with young kids, or bird watching enthusiasts. Two weekends in a row with great weather meant no excuse to stay indoors, and although it’s a short walk, I spent a good hour walking around taking photos.

The track is flat and well maintained, and on Google advertised it as wheelchair friendly. There were no cars as I pulled into the car park, and I didn’t see anyone else as I walked the loop the second time around. I do know that local eco-tourism attraction, Awakeri Rail, makes a stop there. I saw a ‘private access’ sign on another part of the track, I assume this is where they would make their stop.

The wooden bridge that greets you at the start of the loop track.

Into the woods of a native Kahikatea forest.

You can walk the loop easily in under 30 minutes, there are benches throughout the track if you just want to sit and enjoy the view and singing Tui birds.

How to get there from Whakatane: You can go via Station Rd (turn left on Paroa Rd before you get to the Tauranga turn off), or head towards Awakeri and turn left before the shops.

There's a fence of gumboots by the carpark, I forgot to read what it was for.